Film Club 09

Poncho wrote:

Fatal Exception wrote:Downloading the HD Redux version It might take a while, downloading HD suff is just like downloading normal stuff was like years ago. Im used to not waiting for films

Urgh. There needs to be a notice that reads "Original version. Do not watch the Redux". Seriously, like I said to someone else, the original is the...well, the original. It's the version that was released in cinemas and it's the version that has been praised by critics and film goers for decades. The Redux is a near hour longer version and nowhere near as tightly focused.

more heat than light wrote:My thoughts...

This is my third time watching Apocalypse Now, and I was surprised by how much I'd forgotten. It still felt fresh, which was a nice surprise. The opening scene, with The Doors playing over the top is a classic scene, but I did find the first 15-20 minutes to be a bit of a drag. Once Willard has his mission, the film kicks into gear, and from that moment the two and a half hours fly by.

It's pretty much classic scene after classic scene, isn't it. Ride Of The Valkyries, 'Charlie don't surf', the Playboy Bunnies, all cleverly depicting war's influence to drive people slowly insane. One scene I had forgotten about was where they reach the last army base, and everything has gone to ****. The lighting and sound in this scene is so all over the place it makes the viewer uncomfortable, which I suppose is the whole point.

It's amazing how much presence Marlon Brando holds over the camera. He is utterly convincing as Colonel Kurtz, and makes Dennis Hopper's rogue cameraman feel a little bit OTT. I also feel that the ending is a little bit rushed, I don't know if the Redux version is any different as I haven't seen it, but I do think Kurtz deservs a bigger send off. Again though, this might be the point.

Overall I think it is a slightly flawed but completely captivating war movie. The last line "the horror..." sums it up entirely. I think it is rightly heralded as a classic movie, and I enjoyed watching it immensly. Thanks Zellery!

Oh, and my missus said "it was alright, but the guy waving the purple flare about should have been more careful". Women.

Rubix78 wrote:Next person out of the cup to name a film is Mr Plough, you have until Friday to name our next fate!

more heat than light wrote:The last line "the horror..." sums it up entirely.

Joseph Conrad wrote:I saw on that ivory face the expression of sombre pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror — of an intense and hopeless despair. Did he live his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision - he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath -

"The horror! The horror!"

Rog wrote:About to stick the DVD on right now.

Wish I'd have been picked I've got a good one.

Atreyu wrote:

more heat than light wrote:The last line "the horror..." sums it up entirely.

Joseph Conrad wrote:I saw on that ivory face the expression of sombre pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror — of an intense and hopeless despair. Did he live his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision - he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath -

"The horror! The horror!"

... and the most galling thing about it all is that Conrad's first language, like Nabokov's, wasn't even English.

Vladimir Nabokov wrote:Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palette to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.